My nephew, Travis Walter Wheaton, died suddenly in a car accident on July 4th, 2021.  It has been a long and difficult year for my family, and we learned very recently that the RNC has laid charges against the driver of the car. Travis was a passenger. The driver was one of his closest friends since childhood, and he continues to be an important part of our family. He has been been an essential part of our healing process, especially for Travis's sisters, Samantha and Aimee, and for my sister, Michelle. The first time that I saw Travis's friend after the accident - when he limped into the funeral home, bandaged up, shaved head, barely able to stand, struggling to breathe  - I hugged him and I told him that we do not blame him for any of this. People make mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes are tragic and they cannot be undone.  We mourn. We learn. We try to heal. We try our best to make things better.

I lost my only nephew, and I want to see that this young man - the driver of the car in which Travis died - is given the opportunity to grow, to heal, and to be successful in life in the ways that I had always wanted for Travis.  Like many teenagers, they made stupid decisions together, but they were also working hard together to learn how to do better. They were getting better. They were making plans to overcome their demons, looking for the tools and learning the skills that they needed to get through the messy world of adolescence. And, it is not hard for me to imagine this story being the other way around. Travis was seated in the back seat of the car, where the impact was most forceful. Travis's other friend could have been sitting there. All three of them made this mistake together.

The process of healing requires that we avoid creating further harm.

On behalf of my entire family, I am seeking donations to help cover the legal costs that the driver's family will now incur. We hope to be able to cover these costs, providing the best defence possible so that any legal consequences are focused on his healing and what is best for his future, for his family, and for our community as a whole. We have begun working with the family to retain a lawyer, and have been told to expect legal fees between $5000 and $7000. Charges have been laid by the RNC. This was unavoidable. It is the law. We do not, however, take any comfort from this process. Travis's death has been punishing enough. 

 

We ask for your support toward this. If we are fortunate enough to raise more than necessary, remaining funds will be used to initiate the Travis Wheaton Wellness Foundation. You may have seen some of my sister's posts with the hashtag #TravisWheatonWellness. You might have heard her on the radio at some point this past year talking about Travis's personal struggles, and his goal to achieving better mental health through better physical health and better habits. Our initial goal, in his memory, is to raise money to provide  gym memberships for kids who could not avail otherwise.  We are beginning this foundation in order to develop supports for youth that focus on the intersectionality of teenage wellness, mental health, physical health, and habit.

If you cannot help us financially, we ask that you help share and promote. And, we ask that you always remember to listen, to try to understand, and to forgive. Good people can make bad decisions. We all deserve the opportunity to do better.

Thankyou,
Cory Thorne

With Michelle Thorne, Samantha Wheaton, Aimee Wheaton, Walter Thorne, Marjorie Thorne, & Leonardo Gutiérrez